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PiscaMapsUnited States Florida Alachua County Santa Fe River

Fishing at Santa Fe River

Florida · Alachua County, Columbia County, Bradford County, Gilchrist County, Union County and Suwannee County · 73 river miles in Florida
State
Florida
Country
USA
Licence
State-issued
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Florida River 73 river miles in Florida Public river — sovereign water 🌙 Night fishing

About Fishing at Santa Fe River

Santa Fe River is a public river in Alachua County, Columbia County, Bradford County, Gilchrist County, Union County and Suwannee County, Florida, managed by State of Florida (sovereign / public-trust water). You can fish it on an Florida licence, but bank access is only at road crossings, parks, FWC access sites and other public land; riparian owners control the bank on non-navigable reaches. Public access confirmed via marquee water.

The Santa Fe, a Suwannee tributary — Suwannee and largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish and bluegill in gin-clear spring water. The river disappears underground at O'Leno State Park and re-emerges 3 miles later. Kayak access at US-441, Rum Island and Poe Springs.

It runs roughly 73 miles through the North Central region. Anglers here mostly fish for suwannee bass, largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish, bluegill; channel catfish, flathead catfish, gulf sturgeon, mullet are also on record. Live flow and gauge height come from the Santa Fe River Near Graham, Fla. USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Mill Creek and Olustee Creek.

County
Alachua, Columbia, Bradford, Gilchrist, Union, Suwannee
Region
North Central
Length
73 river miles in Florida
Public access
Public river — sovereign water
Managed by
State of Florida (sovereign / public-trust water)
Night fishing
Permitted
Boats
Generally unrestricted

Fish Species at Santa Fe River

Species from FWC fish-management and boat-ramp data.

Access & Rules at Santa Fe River

Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in Florida. Some city and county park lakes, and a few Fish Management Areas, have posted hours — check the property rules. Bowfishing and gigging at night are popular and legal on most fresh water.

Boats: Most Florida lakes and rivers have no horsepower limit; idle-speed / no-wake zones are marked near ramps, bridges, residential canals and in manatee zones (Nov–Mar manatee speed zones are strictly enforced). Some small FMAs are electric-motor-only or car-top only.

Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at Florida state parks (reserve at floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com), water-management-district and WMA campsites (many need a free permit or a WMA/management-area permit), and the river-camp system on the Suwannee, Peace and Kissimmee. Dispersed camping is not allowed on most WMAs outside designated hunt seasons.

Tackle: Statewide black-bass daily limit is 5, only one 16 inches or longer; many trophy lakes (Okeechobee, the Kissimmee and Harris chains, several FMAs) have their own slot or catch-and-release rules, and some have special crappie or panfish limits — check the FWC regulations for this water. Butterfly peacock bass: 2 per day, only one over 17 inches.

Facilities Near Santa Fe River

Boat ramps: 7 mapped — Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat ramp, Boat Ramp, High Springs Boat Ramp and others nearby.

Camping: 5 sites mapped nearby — Bowman’s Landing, Campsite, O'Kemp Group Camp, Ellie Ray Campground, Tent Camping.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.

River Conditions

Loading live flow & gauge height…

Live from USGS gauge 02320700 — Santa Fe River Near Graham, Fla.. Full gauge data →

Fishing Licence for Santa Fe River

Anyone 16–64 needs a Florida freshwater fishing licence — resident annual is about $17, non-resident annual about $47, and non-resident 3-day (~$17) and 7-day (~$30) licences are sold. There is no trout stamp. Florida residents 65+ and residents fishing in their home county with cane poles are exempt. Buy from the FWC (GoOutdoorsFlorida.com). A Florida freshwater fishing licence covers public rivers, creeks and the fresh reaches of the canals. Where a river or canal turns brackish you also need a saltwater licence for snook, redfish and tarpon (and a snook permit and tarpon tag).

Florida

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Resident annual: ~$17 Non-resident annual: ~$47 Non-resident 3-day: ~$17 · 7-day: ~$30 · no trout stamp · FL residents 65+ fish free Buy: gooutdoorsflorida.com

Fish Management Areas & border waters

FWC Fish Management Areas may have their own hours, gear limits and (on a few) a small day-use permit — check the FMA brochure Lake Seminole (Jim Woodruff pool) on the Georgia line — a Florida or Georgia licence is honoured lake-wide Where a river or canal turns brackish you also need a Florida saltwater licence (plus a snook permit / tarpon tag) for snook, redfish and tarpon

View Santa Fe River on Google Maps →

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Frequently Asked Questions

More Fishing in Alachua County

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